Surname MacTernan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacTernan: What does the surname MacTernan mean?
The surname MacTernan is of Gaelic origin, derived from the Irish name "Mac Thighearnáin", which translates to "son of Thighearnán". The name Thighearnán itself is derived from the word "tighearna", meaning "lord" or "master". Thus, MacTernan can essentially be construed to mean "son of the lord" or "son of the master". This surname is traditionally found among Irish and Scottish families. Over time and through translation, there may also be multiple spellings and variations of this name, such as McTiernan, MacTiernan, McTernan, MacTernan, among others. As with many surnames of this type, it was typically used to indicate paternal lineage and inherited from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisMacTernan: Where does the name MacTernan come from?
The surname MacTernan is of Irish origin, stemming from the Gaelic Mac Tighearnáin, which translates to "son of the lord" or "son of the master." The MacTernan family was a significant sept (branch) of the clan Uí Briúin Bréifne, which was historically based in the northern parts of Connacht Province in Ireland, mainly in present-day counties of Leitrim and Cavan.
As with many Irish surnames, MacTernan was anglicized and altered over time, resulting in various spellings such as McTiernan, McTernan, MacTiernan and others. The displacement and migration of people during and after the Great Famine in the 19th century saw members of the MacTernan family spread worldwide, particularly to the United States, England, and Australia.
Today, the MacTernan surname is not common, but it can still be found most frequently in Ireland and areas with significant Irish diaspora such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and to a lesser extent, Australia and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname MacTernan
The surname MacTernan is often associated with Scottish and Irish heritage. Variations, spellings and related surnames can frequently include MacTiernan, Mcternan, Mactiernan, McTiernan, MacTierney, McTerny, Mctierny, McTerney, MacTerney, Tiernan, Tierney, etc.
This surname is understood to have originated from the Gaelic Mac Tighearnáin meaning "son of Tighearnán", which translates as "Lord" or "Master". Hence, there are also versions of this name that drop the "Mc" or "Mac" prefix and end with "nan" or "nan", such as Ternan or Tiernan.
There may also be phonetic variants that have been Anglicized over time, based on how the Gaelic original was interpreted and written down. For instance, Turnan, Ternon, Ternin, or even Tynan can be considered variants.
Sometimes the 'Mc' or 'Mac' can be dropped entirely, further expanding the possible variants of the surname. As a last note, MacTiernan could also have been translated to other languages, creating even more variants of the surname in different regions or countries.
Famous people with the name MacTernan
- Gabriel MacTernan, an actor known for his work in various productions related to the animated series “Steven Universe.”
- Fiona MacTernan, a costume designer who has worked with popular films such as “Frozen 2” and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”
- P.J. MacTernan, a visual effects artist who has worked on major films such as “Mechanic: Resurrection” and “Olympus Has Fallen.”
- Scott MacTernan, a cinematographer who specializes in commercials and music videos.
- Keith MacTernan, a stuntman and performer who has been seen in movies such as “Ant-Man and the Wasp” and “Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation.”
- James MacTernan, a film director who has worked in both the documentary and narrative genres.
- Matt MacTernan, a radio and television producer who has had his work featured on networks such as BBC, Sky, and MTV.
- Sean MacTernan, a writer and journalism adviser.
- Joseph MacTernan, a noted singer and songwriter whose works have become part of the popular culture.
- Alexander MacTernan, an American actor best known for his appearances in popular films such as “Paris, Je T’Aime” and “Rage.”